Calumet Pioneer Historical Society Records

The Calumet Pioneer Historical Society held its first meeting on October 24, 1935 in the Pullman Branch Library. The initial impetus for holding the meeting was the work of the branch librarian, Bernadine McLaughlin. Her objectives in bringing the community together were twofold: first, she wanted to establish a closer relationship between the library and the neighborhood it served, and second, to begin building up an historical collection on the community that would preserve the history of the area.

After the first meeting, a special committee was formed to give the group a name and draft a constitution. The main purpose of the Calumet Pioneer Society as stated in the constitution was to “perpetuate the memory of the early days in the Calumet region and to preserve memorials and exhibits of these days.” Membership was initially reserved for families and descendants of first settlers and community residents dating prior to 1895.

The society met quarterly and held its annual meeting in the fall. The meetings consisted of historic speeches and biographical statements on the community and its residents. At one point the society had over 200 members, but sometime during the late 1960s and early 1970s, it faded out of existence.